A/N I dont own the labyrinth, all characters belong to their rightful owners - this is a humble fanfiction.

Sorry I have been away for so long, life got the better of me - but I hadn't forgotten this story and do intend to finish it - I hope you enjoy this second update with some more Jareth and Sarah moments - things are beginning to heat up...and things are slowly beginning to link together...

Your feedback means so much to me- so please continue to review- they do truly help me to keep writing!

Again as always unedited and just a raw version, this will be fixed when I have finished the story!

Enjoy this slice!

Thank you

Chapter 13.

The white ceiling finally came into focus as she tried to put together where she was. Her eyes felt heavy as they roamed the rather clinical room until they landed on a figure dozing in a chair. Her heart thrummed in her chest and a sudden sharpness returned to her vision. She inhaled sharply sitting up in the hospital bed that she had been placed upon. Staying as silent as a mouse, she observed him. A single strand of his blonde hair had fallen out of place as it moved with his breath, his breathing steady. His eyes flickering beneath their lids as if seeing things, she could not see. He appeared so normal dressed as a doctor it was so hard to believe that this man before her was the Goblin King and the source of so many nightmares. She stared at him, recalling the earlier events and the dream, the dream of the boy…although now that she thought about it, she remembered he said that it wasn't a dream rather a memory. Quietly she swung her legs over the bed careful not to wake him. She silently wondered what would happen if she touched him? Would she fall into one of his memories? Perhaps she would find the reason of why he was here? She bit her lip, and drummed her fingers silently against the mattress, certain she was about to do something she was later going to regret. She gave him one final hard look, decided that he was well and truly asleep before she slipped of the bed. She stood in front of him, feeling rather confident as she leaned in closer and inspected his face. He truly was a fine specimen; she couldn't deny it. There was not a thing she would change about his features, as he was, as far as she was concerned, the most handsome man she had ever seen. She pulled back and placed her hands on her hips, cocking her head to the side in thought. It was such a rare opportunity for the Goblin King to be so vulnerable…and it wasn't like she was planning on murdering or taking advantage of him…she simply wanted to test a theory… she reached forward with a tentative hand, half expecting his eyes to lurch open as she lightly touched his chest. Nothing happened. She stared at his face, but he remained at peace. She looked down at her fingers and scowled before placing her entire palm on his chest and still she remained very much right where she was… no falling or fainting into some memory or dream. She then placed her other hand on his chest…nothing other than a very solid chest. She blushed slightly as she caught herself slightly groping him. Shaking her head, she had a job at hand…body admiration could happen latter. She continued to pat down his body but to no avail, she didn't even feel dizzy. Something else had to be at play, she leaned back and went to take her hand away when it was snatched up and she was yanked forwards, with a startled cry she found herself tripping over her feet and mere inches from the Goblin Kings nose as his mis-matched eyes bore into hers. Her heartbeat rather rapidly as his other arm snaked around her back and pulled her in tightly, her breath hitched as she slammed her free hand against the wall, preventing herself from getting any closer to the Goblin King as she squirmed uncomfortably between his legs.

'Please,' he purred, 'don't stop on my account.' He gave a lop-sided grin.

Her brain went blank as she momentarily forgot herself. It was his deep chuckle that rumbled right through her that brought her searing back into reality as she pushed away from the wall and back up onto her feet as he willingly released her. She covered her face with her hands aware of her crimson cheeks and the fact he had just caught her fondling him.

'I-I,'

She could hardly speak. He rearranged himself on the chair, looking very much like a lethargic cat as he stared at her amused. She shook her head, she needed very much to regain her composure to find her thoughts, his gaze was unsettling and did little to aide her on her quest back to control. She swung her head to stare at the ticking clock it was one in the afternoon…1300 hours. The world tilted ever so slightly as words filtered into her mind.

'You have thirteen hours in which to solve the labyrinth,'

That was his voice…she was certain of it, but from when and where?

'Thirteen years, that's an awfully long time to not be in contact with someone.'

He had been transfixed by the number.

'Thirteen years, it's a rather odd number, don't you think?'

Thirteen…thirteen…why was it always the number thirteen? What was so special about the number thirteen. She heard someone calling to her, she whipped her head around to see the Goblin King reaching out to her. She stumbled back as her brain tried to place him in a time frame that made sense. Her head gave a deep thud as if trying to break down an imaginary wall inside her head. The thudding only grew as she grasped her head in her hands groaning in pain. A hand reached out, cupping her face, the instant contact sent a sharp pain in her head as a memory forced its way out.

'Turn back, Sarah, Turn back before it's too late.'

'I-I can't!' she cried, talking to the voice inside her head, 'don't you understand I can't?'

Why couldn't she turn back? She didn't understand, her head was in utter turmoil as she stared up at the Goblin King lost and in pain.

'What a pity,' he sighed, tilting his head to the side.

She was going to become overwhelmed if she didn't start taking back control off her own thoughts…she was going to go mad…going to become another prisoner in his mental prison. She had to take back control, had to fight, she would not lose to him. Snapping to attention she shoved him away, startling him ever so slightly. She turned to run only for a firm arm too find its way around her middle. She felt her panic begin to rise but instead of crashing into the Goblin King like she anticipated, she found herself falling aimlessly back down into the dark abyss.

She fell onto the ground with a thud, hissing she stared around herself. She did not recognize this place at all, a beautiful ornate garden, with lush green trees but only one of the trees held any fruit, and only one fruit at that. The piece of fruit was like a peach except it was glowing. The peach called to her, despite her hatred of the things. She rose to her feet when the sound of leaves crunching under foot caught her attention. She turned her head and gasped when she realized it was none other than her very own birth mother Linda as a young girl. She watched as the young Linda turned back towards the way she had come as if double checking nothing was following before she stuck her tongue out.

'Fools,' she spat turning on her feet to face the garden, 'it can't be too much further,' she muttered.

It was odd for Sarah to see Linda in this strange world, to see her mother look so much like herself as a child. She could only be about ten years old, her face young without a single piece of fear on her features. She watched as Linda walked over to the tree, clearly having the same pull to the tree as Sarah did. Linda pulled off the lone peach and without any hesitation ate it. Gasps sounded all around them, as thousands of eyes stared out at them in wonder. Linda licked her fingertips clearly unfazed by the eyes.

'You ate the peach?' an elder voice crooned.

It was then Sarah noticed a statue hidden beneath a bush, it stared at Linda in awe.

'Was I not suppose too?' she questioned, narrowing her eyes at the statue.

The statue said nothing and only nodded her head somewhat approvingly. Linda shrugged and continued forward. Sarah went to follow when a heavy hand landed on her shoulder. She spun around to face him. He looked far from impressed, which meant only one thing, he was not leading her to these dreams.

'You wander too far precious,' he warned.

'Why is this happening?' she asked him, stepping back from his grip.

'I could ask you the same thing,' he mused, 'I suspect it something to do with whoever you let have power over you,' he growled taking a step forward. 'Tell me Sarah, who was it that you deemed more fit to have some form off power over you? What could he offer you that I could not?'

Sarah found herself retreating quite rapidly at his rather sudden change of temper as she stumbled back, and the world around them vanished into a puff of smoke and now they were in but a black void.

'Answer me Sarah?!' he roared causing her to stop.

His temper flaring as his doctor appearance vanished and standing before her was the Goblin King who terrorized her brother and Linda. Sarah stared at him mouth open wide as she tried to find an answer to appease him, but the truth was she did not know.

'I-I don't know,' she replied.

'You,' he stepped forward, 'don't,' he tilted his head to the side, 'know?'

He gripped her forearms tightly, leaving her nowhere to run as she squirmed in his hold.

'I don't know!' she cried out. 'Only I have power over me, now let me go!' she struggled.

His grip only tightened as his gloved fingers only bit further into her skin. His head reared back as he laughed. He was frightening her, she struggled once more, before bringing her leg up and slamming it into his knee. He released her instantly and she ran further into the abyss to escape him. She had to wake up, she needed too! She looked around frantically for a door only to come face to face with the Goblin King. She watched as he raised a hand into the air with a menacing smile upon his face before he clenched his fist and the world dropped beneath her feet.

She did not scream as she fell, as pieces of an old building began to fly past her, it was strange it was like she had seen it all before. She fell onto a piece of floating ground with a thud. Her head suddenly began to roar in agony as she remained on her knees grabbing her head. She looked for the Goblin King only to see he was wearing different clothes entirely, clothes she had seen on him before. Her brain screamed at her, she rolled into the fetal position unable to keep her eyes open writhing in pain. She could feel his presence by her side, a hand touching her, but she did not care the pain inside her head was too immense.

'Sarah?' a voice called too her. 'Sarah?'

She lurched forwards only to come crashing into the Goblin Kings chest, who was once again wearing his doctors uniform. He held her back at arms length and stared at her in concern.

'Miss Williams, can you hear me?' he asked.

Her heartbeat quickening as she took in the hospital room before returning to stare at the Goblin King who was now posing as Doctor Kobold. She needed to get away from him, he was the cause of all this madness…but her brother…her mother.

'I want to see my mother.' She stated firmly, meeting the steady gaze of the Goblin King.

They stared at each other for some time as though slowly assessing one another before he released her and took a step back.

'As my lady commands,' he grinned and gave a mock bow, 'follow me.'

Sarah nodded and quickly scrambled off the bed, silently relieved for some space between them as she followed the Goblin King down the hall towards her mothers cell, in attempts of finding some answers.